A43C11/008

Rapid-entry footwear having a stabilizer and an elastic element
11633006 · 2023-04-25 · ·

A rapid-entry shoe having an elastic element to enlarge a foot opening of the rapid-entry shoe and also having a stabilizer to prevent a rear portion of the rapid-entry shoe from collapsing downward.

INCREASED ACCESS FOOTWEAR
20230122624 · 2023-04-20 ·

An article of footwear providing easy donning and doffing through a heel region. A heel cup is pivotably coupled with the footwear to articulate between an open configuration allowing easier access to a foot-receiving cavity and a closed configuration enclosing a heel region of the footwear. A tensioning strap extends from a first side of the footwear around the heel cup to an opposite second side of the footwear when the heel cup is in the closed configuration. The heel strap is effective to structurally secure the heel cup in the closed configuration. One or more tensioning strands may extend from the tensioning strap. The tensioning strands may be effective to convert force provided through the tensioning strap across a forefoot portion to generate a forefoot securing force through a lacing mechanism.

MANNEQUIN SHOES HAVING IMPROVED DECORATIVENESS AND CONVENIENCE
20230121649 · 2023-04-20 ·

The present invention discloses a structure of a mannequin shoe with improved decorativeness and convenience. The mannequin shoe according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a front and rear guide member including a front guide surrounding a toe portion of a mannequin foot, a rear guide surrounding a heel portion of the mannequin foot, and a connecting portion connecting between the front guide and the rear guide as one body, and a side guide member surrounding a left and right side portion and a sole portion of the mannequin foot and worn on the mannequin foot along with the front and rear guide member. Accordingly, the present invention can provide a mannequin shoe with improved decorativeness and convenience including configurations that can have an aesthetic effect of looking like that an actual human shoe is worn on the mannequin when viewed from the outside, that can reduce the manufacturing cost and replacement cost of the mannequin shoe for display, which need to be changed frequently according to the season or fashion, and that can shorten the replacement time.

Rapid-entry footwear having a heel arm and a resilient member
11659886 · 2023-05-30 · ·

A rapid-entry shoe having a heel arm configured to transition between a collapsed configuration, for easy donning and doffing of the shoe, and an uncollapsed configuration, for securing a foot inside the shoe, the shoe having a resilient member configured to bias the heel arm toward the uncollapsed configuration.

ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR WITH ADJUSTABLE FITTING SYSTEM

An article of footwear includes a fitting system with an upper member that is supported by the upper and a strand guide that is supported by the sole structure. The strand guide is flexible and flexes in concert with the sole structure. The strand guide has a guide surface. The fitting system further includes a tensioning system with a flexible strand that is configured to bias the upper member toward the strand guide. The flexible strand has a first section coupled to the upper member and a second section extending through the sole structure. The second section abuts the guide surface. The second section is configured to slide across the guide surface as a result of flexure of the strand guide. The first section and the upper member are configured to move relative to the sole structure as a result of sliding of the second section across the guide surface.

Cable lock with compliant cable engagement feature
11602198 · 2023-03-14 · ·

A cable lock adapted to temporarily maintain a static position along a cable strung through an article of footwear or apparel includes a housing and a compliant insert. The housing defines an aperture and is formed from a first material. The aperture extends through a thickness of the housing to provide access to the cable. The insert is provided at least partially within the aperture and defining an opening, the insert formed from a second material that is softer than the first material, the insert includes a plurality of cable engaging features extending radially inward from a perimeter of the aperture, the plurality of cable engaging features being adapted to deflect away from a neutral, unstressed plane when a cable is drawn through the opening.

Restraining device to inhibit removal of footwear
11602199 · 2023-03-14 ·

A restraining device configured to inhibit the removal of an article of footwear to which the restraining device is attached is provided. The restraining device will prevent footwear from being removed regardless of the type of fastening means used to secure the footwear to the foot of a wearer and whether the fastening means are fastened. In some embodiments, the restraining device is configured to be permanently attached to an article of footwear. In other embodiments, the restraining device is configured to be removably attached to an article of footwear. In some embodiments, the restraining device generally includes a ring-shaped member, a tightening means, and a locking mechanism. In other embodiments, the restraining device generally includes a restraining strap and a unique locking mechanism.

Quick lacing system and shoe equipped with same

The invention relates to a quick lacing system (10) for releasably fixing at least one shoelace (20) to a housing (30), which has a channel (40) for feeding through at least one shoelace (20), wherein the channel (40) is at least partly made of a movably mounted rocker (50) with a substantially concave interior (60), which is oriented in the direction of the channel (40), on a first side and at least partly of an eccentric jaw (70), which interacts with the rocker (50) at least in a closed position of the quick lacing system (10), on a second side substantially opposite the rocker. The invention also relates to a shoe equipped with such a quick lacing system (10).

STRAP SYSTEM FOR ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR
20230200494 · 2023-06-29 · ·

An article of footwear includes an upper defining a throat configured to receive a foot. The article of footwear also includes a sole structure coupled to the upper. The article of footwear further includes a panel having a first side coupled to the upper for movement between an open position and a closed position. The panel exposes a portion of the throat in the open position and covers the portion of the throat in the closed position. The article of footwear also includes a strap having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The first end and the second end are disposed on a first side of the upper with a body portion of the strap disposed between the first end and the second end surrounding the upper.

RAPID-ENTRY SHOE
20170360151 · 2017-12-21 · ·

A rapid-entry shoe allows the shoe to be rapidly entered and readied for wearing by the user. The shoe may be any of a wide variety of shoe types, including shoes of a wide variety of styles and functions. The rapid entry features of the shoes utilize various movable elements that are attached to a sole portion or other portion of the shoe and allow movement of a portion of the shoe under pressure to allow rapid entry of the user's foot into the shoe. The moveable elements may include flexible elements, elements having constructed to have a memory of a native position, magnetic elements, and/or elastic elements.